WHERE TO ENJOY SUMMER DRINKS WITH FRIENDS by Timothy Malcolm
The most important question you need to ask when choosing a place to grab a drink is,
“DO THEY HAVE OUTDOOR SEATING?”Whether after a long day at work, on a sunny weekend afternoon, or during a night on-the-town, grabbing a drink outdoors is a nice way to relax and get some fresh air. The following places across the region offer the opportunity to bask in the sun, in the shade, or under the stars, and sip to your heart’s content:
BEACON
BAJA 328 TEQUILA BAR AND SOUTHWEST GRILL
328 Main Street, Beacon
845-838-2252,baja328.com
Smack in the middle of Main Street, Baja 328 offers a wide selection of tequila, flights, and, of course, margaritas. Food includes tacos, bowls, and other Southwestern specialties. While not completely outdoors, Baja 328 has open-air seating thanks to its mammoth garage doors that open to Main Street.
POPPY’S BURGERS AND FRIES
184 Main Street, Beacon
845-765-2121, poppyburger.com
In the afternoons, sit in the shaded, fenced-in garden seating area right being this amazing burger joint. New York State beer options are on tap and compliment their menu of 100 percent grass-fed burgers and local toppings. Vegetarian options are available, so everyone can enjoy an after-work beverage and bite.
THE HOP
554 Main Street, Beacon
845-440-8676,thehopbeacon.com
With a patio-style biergarten, the Hop is a perfect place to sit for a few hours with some games and craft beer. It boasts an expert selection that is always changing, along with an inventive menu where indulgence rules. (The porky puffs are superb.) The Hop also does special events, like pig roasts and tap takeovers.
GARDINER
GARDINER LIQUID MERCANTILE
128 Main Street, Gardiner
845-633-8764, gardinerliquidmercantile.com
Grab a seat at the farm bar and order a cocktail made of completely local ingredients. Or, maybe you want a local beer or glass of wine. It is all local here, with front porch seating fit for a stop after an outdoor adventure. The Mercantile is building a back deck too, because there is never enough outdoor seating.
TUTHILL HOUSE AT THE MILL
20 Grist Mill Lane, Gardiner
845-255-1527,tuthillhouse.com
TuthillHouse has the oldest continuously operated water-powered gristmill in New York. The property also includes Tuthilltown Spirits, where you are sure to enjoy an excellent cocktail. Try the Basil ‘n’ Bourbon, made with Hudson Four Grain Bourbon, basil, demerara syrup, and lime. Spirits also play a hand in food preparation, such as in marinated hanger steak and Scottish salmon. Brunch is also available.
KINGSTON
BOITSON’S
47 North Front Street, Kingston
845-339-2333,boitsons.com
This is a necessary stop for upstate food lovers. Boitson’s features a revolving drink menu, but you can always order a Manhattan and Keegan Ales. Relax on the back deck, which provides clear-day views of the Catskills. Food includes hefty starters, like mussels, deviled eggs, and lamb sliders. For mains, try the Boitson burger or pork shoulder.
DIEGO’S TAQUERIA
38 John Street, Kingston
845-338-2816, diegoskingston.com
Sometimes you just need a taco. Diego’s does tacos, salads, bowls, and tortas. Grab one and sit outside at a sidewalk table with a beer. Modelo and Corona are available, of course, but Diego’s also has a solid list of craft favorites, including Ballast Point, Sixpoint, and Allagash. Also enjoy wine and creative cocktails; definitely try one of their margaritas.
ECCE TERRA
288 Fair Street, Kingston
845-338-8734,ecce-terra.com
Chill outside with drinks at a tiled sidewalk table in the heart of Uptown Kingston’s historic district. Enjoy their house-made spicy sausage or Mediterranean specialties like grape leaves with tzatziki and halloumi cheese. They’re perfect accompaniments to sipping a drink and watching passersby.
HICKORY BBQ & SMOKEHOUSE
743 Route 28, Kingston
845-338-2424, hickoryrestaurant.com
Stop in for some of the most delectable smoked barbecue cuisine north of the Mason-Dixon Line. They also do a happy hour on weekdays, so it’s a great place to sit out on the patio with friends after work.
HOFFMAN HOUSE
94 North Front Street, Kingston
845-338-2626,hoffmanhousetavern.com
This circa 1679 stone house serves traditional American fare with some British touches, like beef and Yorkshire pudding. Sit on the covered patio or at a lawn table by their fountain garden while sipping a cocktail from the full bar. Lunch and dinner are also served on the lawn, and a tavern menu is available.
MARINER’S HARBOR
1 Broadway, Kingston
845-340-8051,marinersharbor.com
Sit by the Rondout with a dozen Blue Point oysters and a martini from Mariner’s full bar. The restaurant also does classic seaside dinner with blackened and crusted fish, steak and potatoes, and all the fixings.
OLE SAVANNAH
100 Rondout Landing, Kingston
845-331-4283,olesavannah.com
Watch boats sail past on the Rondout Creek while you enjoy some Southern comfort fare. Ole Savannah offers pulled pork, brisket, and ribs. Or, maybe you would like low-country shrimp and grits. There is also local craft beer and Southern-inspired cocktails made with Hudson Valley spirits.
SAVONA’S TRATTORIA
11 Broadway, Kingston
845-339-6800, savonas.com
A night on the sidewalk at Savona’s is like dining in the middle of a little Italian village. Linger over Nonna’s famous bucatini and meatballs while sipping on a bottle of from the restaurant’s substantial wine list.
MARLBORO
THE FALCON
1348 Route 9W, Marlboro
845-236-7970,liveatthefalcon.com
Take your pick: Listen to the Marlboro Falls crashing around you or a world-class musician performing live. The Falcon has multiple outdoor seating areas, including a new biergarten. It’s a good place to enjoy a cocktail, sangria-of-the-day, local wine, or beer. Dinner is served nightly. Try their burgers!
NEWBURGH
BLU POINTE
120 Front Street, Newburgh
845-568-0100,blu-pointe.com
You really cannot go wrong on the waterfront, but Blu Pointe is a place that really gets it right. Special cocktails include the Veruca Salt, made with chili-infused tequila, PAMA liqueur, blueberry, agave nectar, and smoked sea salt. Beer is New York-centric, and the list of wine and spirits is huge. Dinner is a fine-dining experience, but if you want a drink and a bite, go with the raw bar for oysters, clams, and lobster cocktail.
CENA 2000
50 Front Street, Newburgh
845-561-7676,cena2000.com
With its beautiful, modern outdoor space and oyster bar, Cena 2000 gives diners views of the Hudson River on the Newburgh waterfront. It specializes in Italian favorites, so order a bottle of wine or a dirty martini and enjoy the mighty Hudson.
NEW PALTZ
BACCHUS
4 South Chestnut Street, New Paltz
845-255-8636, bacchusnewpaltz.com
The supreme hangout of New Paltz, Bacchus has a courtyard patio for warm-weather dining and private parties. Hang out with one of Bacchus’ home-brewed beers—they love sour beers and Belgian styles—or something from the extensive beer list of over 400 varieties.
BROOKLYN CIDER HOUSE
155 North Ohioville Road, New Paltz
845-633-8657,brooklynciderhouse.com
Go for a nibble and a sip at Brooklyn Cider House. Twin Star Orchards is the sustainable source for this hard cider business. Nosh on brick oven pizza, small-farm burgers, or baked goods while sipping on hard cider on the outdoor pavilion or at a picnic table by the pond.
HUCKLEBERRY
21 Church Street, New Paltz
845-633-8443,huckleberrynewpaltz.com
With its outdoor patio and emphasis on drinks and small plates, Huckleberry is the place to be for a summer drink. Cocktails are serious. The Old Fashioned starts with Old Overholt Rye and the Pins-and-Needles features rosemary-infused gin. The beer menu mixes New York offerings with national favorites.
JAR’D WINE PUB
Water Street Market, 10 Main Street, New Paltz
845-255-8466,jardwinepub.com
An intimate wine pub inside Water Street Market, Jar’d has a patio, DJ dance parties, and funky seating. Local and sustainable wine is available, along with a mix of craft beer and dietary-conscious offerings. Small plates and charcuterie are also available.
GARVAN’S GASTROPUB
215 Huguenot Street, New Paltz
845-255-7888,garvans.com
Garvan’s sits on one of the valley’s most beautiful streets: Huguenot Street. Enjoy a fine dinner and an inventive cocktail on Garvan’s patio overlooking the perfectly manicured lawns of New Paltz Golf Course. Named after owner Garvan McCloskey, this place has some of the best Guinness you will taste in the US.
MAIN COURSE
175 Main Street, New Paltz
845-255-2600,maincoursecatering.com
Sip a signature cocktail of the day while enjoying a lunch and dinner on their front deck. Enjoy farm-to-table gourmet salads, sandwiches, or tartines, and check their site for daily specials like organic roast chicken or short ribs with slow braised greens. A beer and wine list is also available.
THE PARISH RESTAURANT AND BAR
Water Street Market, 10 Main Street, New Paltz
845-255-4205,theparishrestaurant.com
A New Orleans-style haunt, the Parish does bayou-influenced cocktails like the Cocktail a la Louisianne, made with rye, Bénédictine, sweet vermouth, Herbsaint,and Peychaud’s Bitters. They also offer jambalaya, blackened catfish, and okra, and there is outdoor seating on the top level of the market.
THE VILLAGE TEAROOM & BAKE SHOP
10 Plattekill Avenue, New Paltz
845-255-3434,thevillagetearoom.com
Agnes Devereux’s intimate tearoom and restaurant is a fine place to spend a lazy weekend afternoon. Its maple-shaded patio allows for comfortable outdoor seating; take a chair and sip on a glass of wine—or maybe a full bottle of Saison Dupont—while enjoying a cilantro-almond-relish chicken salad or the Ploughman’s lunch.
PHOENICIA
PEEKAMOOSE RESTAURANT & TAP ROOM
8373 Route 28, Big Indian
845-254-6500,peekamooserestaurant.com
With its rustic porch space in the Catskills, Peekamoose is a prime spot to enjoy a summer drink—and oh, the drinks you can have. Peekamoose has a deep selection of beer, wine, and specialty cocktails. Try the Tattooed Genius, made with Catskill Distilling Company’s Defiant Rye. Pair a drink with pork belly meatballs or any of Peekamoose’s inventive American cuisine.
SPORTSMAN ALAMO CANTINA
70 Main Street, Phoenicia
845-688-5259,alamocantina.com
Tacos await. Sit out front on Main Street or on the back deck with $1 tacos and $3 frozen margaritas on Tuesdays. Or, go any other night for authentic Mexican food and a beer list that includes offerings from local breweries like Catskill and Keegan Ales. Don’t forget to grab a beer and wood fired pizza at Brio’s, their sister restaurant next door.
TAVERN 214
76 Route 214, Phoenicia
845-688-7383,tavern214.com
With a covered patio by Stony Clove Creek, Tavern 214 offers a laid-back dining experience with a local-heavy philosophy. Its beer selection shows with a set of New York taps. They also offer a wine list from all over the world. It’s a good place to hang with friends over small plates or even with a date in a casual setting.
THE PHOENICIAN STEAKHOUSE
10 Main Street, Phoenicia
845-688-9800,thephoeniciansteakhouse.com
Outdoor seating is available at this prime spot in the mountains. Serving plenty of surf-and-turf, the Phoenician Steakhouse also boasts an awesome variety of New York-centric beer, plus a mammoth wine bottle list. Have yourself a big outdoor dinner here, and finish off with one of the steakhouse’s dessert martinis. Dreamsicle Martini, anyone?
WOODNOTES GRILLE AT EMERSON RESORT & SPA
5340 Route 28, Mount Tremper
845-688-2828,woodnotesgrille.com emersonresort.com
Part of the Emerson Resort, Woodnotes Grille offers inventive cocktails and, along with a fine all-day menu, provides Happier Hour on weekdays until 7pm. Munch on some fried chicken or steamed clams while sitting on Woodnotes’ wide deck. It’s a fine way to cap a visit to the Emerson.
RHINEBECK
FOSTER’S COACH HOUSE
6411 Montgomery Street, Rhinebeck
845-876-8052,fosterscoachhouse.com
The terrace at Foster’s Coach House is good for an afternoon drink in the middle of a busy Rhinebeck visit. Try the Mint Julep or the Belmont Breeze while munching on some baked stuffed clams.
LIBERTY PUBLIC HOUSE
6417 Montgomery Street, Rhinebeck
845-876-1760,libertyrhinebeck.com
Step back in time at this hip Americana pub with specialty cocktails and delicious appetizers. Enjoy lunch brick-side on their front porch, with blue plaid tablecloths and antique pewter dishware. On selected nights at the boat bar, order drinks straight from the cockpit of a sailboat decorated with colored lights and cardboard signs. Ship flags line the room, and the open wall lets the summer breeze flow through.
TERRAPIN
6426 Montgomery Street, Rhinebeck
845-876-3330,terrapinrestaurant.com
Outdoor seating at Terrapin is cherished, as it allows for impeccable people-watching in bustling Rhinebeck. If you secure a table, be sure to make the most of it: Terrapin has an extensive New York beer and wine inventory, good for tastings. Cocktails include the Hot and Dirty, made with vodka, olive juice, and tabasco. The food is locally grown, American in style, and very delicious.
RONDOUT VALLEY
ARROWOOD FARMS
236 Lower Whitfield Road, Accord
845-253-0389arrowoodfarms.com
Arrowood grows its own hops and grain, and it brews its own beer. Enjoy one of seven kinds of beer on Arrowood’s stone patio, overlooking the field and duck coop. Food includes small plates like deviled duck eggs and cheese. Open on weekends.
AROMA THYME BISTRO
165 Canal Street, Ellenville
845-647-3000aromathymebistro.com
A longtime staple of the Hudson Valley’s sustainable food culture, Aroma Thyme is all-natural, cooking up burgers, plentiful seafood, inventive appetizers, and various vegan options. It also features hundreds of craft beers and wines, plus a few tables outside for a nice evening of dining in ever-growing Ellenville.
HIGH FALLS CAFÉ
12 Stone Dock Road, High Falls
845-687-2699highfallscafe.com
Sit outside on the terrace for a leisurely meal by the Stone Dock Golf Course. The High Falls Café offers a strong mix of pub-style bites and traditional entrees; the meatloaf is a staple. The café also specializes in martinis and has a nice selection of beer and wine.
IVAN’S RESTAURANT
10 Bank Street, Accord
845-626-4896,rondoutgolfclub.com/restaurant
On the Rondout Golf Club property, Ivan’s offers a view of the Catskill Mountains along with some juicy burgers and classic sandwiches. It is a nice spot for lunch or a casual dinner. Go for a warm evening out on the deck, then unwind with the unbeatable sunset view and a beer or wine from the bar.
LEKKER 209
3928 Main Street, Stone Ridge
845-687-9794,lekker209.com
Lekker 209 makes awesome eggs and creative lunch noshes. Sit outside on Lekker’s garden patio for a boozy brunch with unique drinks, like the Piña Habanero Margarita. Then, finish off with some artisanal coffee options.
The Spy
155 Main Street, High Falls
845-687-7249,thespysocialeatery.com
Yes, the beloved Norther Spy is now open again as Spy Café! Savor old favorites like their signature free-range tofu wings or the Spy Burger while enjoying a drink on their beautifully lit enclosed patio under the trees.
THE COUNTRY INN
1380 County Road 2, Krumville
845-657-8956,krumville.com
How does a brick-oven Brussels sprout and ricotta pizza sound? The Country Inn cooks classic Italian fare while its impressive bar shows off more than 500 bottles of beer. Imagine relaxing with a beverage on the bluestone patio with a fire pit overlooking a pond. That’s the Country Inn experience.
ROSENDALE
BYWATER BISTRO
419 Main Street, Rosendale
845-658-3210,thebywaterbistro.com
Unwind by the Rondout Creek on the Bywater Bistro’s back deck, which allows for a pretty view with craft beer on rotating taps and inventive cocktails. The R-Dale Arnold includes house-made iced tea, and the menu includes sandwiches, burgers, bistro staples, and bar bites.
DECK 435 AT THE 1850 HOUSE
435 Main Street, Rosendale
845-658-7800,the1850house.com
Part of a historic inn space, the tavern at The 1850 House features Deck 435, which overlooks the Rondout Creek. Rocking chairs are available, and the space also includes an outdoor bar and, on some nights, live music. Munch on hand-cut truffle salt fries, a scrumptious burger, or a flatbread pizza.
GARDEN HOUSE 12472
4 Hardenburgh Lane, Rosendale
845-658-3131,thegardenhouse12472.wordpress.com
True to its name, Garden House maintains a grassy lawn with ample seating for casual drinks and Mediterranean specialties, like lamb, grape leaves, and wood-fired pizza. A good selection of wine from an Israeli vineyard and craft beer awaits.
MARKET MARKET CAFÉ
1 Madeline Lane, Rosendale
845-658-3164,marketmarketcafe.com
With a cozy outdoor patio, Market Market gives diners the opportunity to casually mull over insanely delicious cocktails. They have the classics, plus Market specialties like the Kirby, made with sake, cucumber, ginger simple syrup, and lime. There is also plenty of beer and wine available, plus good burgers and snacks.
SAUGERTIES
‘CUE
136 Partition Street, Saugerties
845-246-4283,cueshack.com
You have to sit outside here, which only adds to the home-style summer vibe. Seat yourself in their picnic table dining area—located right on Partition Street—and enjoy a glass of beer or wine. Chow down on brisket, baby-back ribs, St. Louis ribs, or the ol’ pile of pork. Enjoy live music on some nights too.
STELLA’S STATION
150 Partition Street, Saugerties
845-246-5998,stellasstation.com
Stella’s is summer. Open only during the warmer months, Stella’s has seating under a canopy and out front. Sip a frozen drink—try the Miami Vice—crush a can of Pabst Blue Ribbon, or enjoy a bottle of chardonnay. The menu includes grilled delights, burgers, sandwiches, and pub-style starters.
WOODSTOCK
BEAR CAFÉ
295 Tinker Street, Woodstock
845-679-5555,bearcafe.com
With seating alongside a calming creek in the Bearsville complex, the Bear Café is a perfect spot for a pre-concert meal or post-concert drink—and of course a post-work one. A large wine list includes a substantial collection of sparkling wines, plus tap and bottled beer and a full spirit list. The food cannot be missed either: chicken, steak, fish, and vegan options are available.
CATSKILL MOUNTAIN PIZZA
51 Mill Hill Road, Woodstock
845-679-7969,catskillmountainpizza.com
With its tables out front, Catskill Mountain Pizza is practically asking you to sit outside and enjoy the lovely Woodstock scene. There are plenty of bottled beers available, including more than a dozen IPAs, and there is a nice selection of wine. You cannot go wrong here with a couple slices and a good drink outdoors.
COMMUNE SALOON
297 Tinker Street, Woodstock
845-684-0367,facebook.com/communesaloon
Need a relaxing, outdoor hangout in Woodstock? The Commune Saloon at the Petersen House has everything for a perfect summer night under the stars, including a roaring fire pit and marshmallow roasting. Enjoy an innovative cocktail made with local spirits, or have a beer from a local brewery. There is plenty of excellent food too.
GARDEN CAFÉ
6 Old Forge Road, Woodstock
845-679-3600,thegardencafewoodstock.com
At the center of the arts colony, the Garden Café is known for its juice bar and vegan offerings, like garden bowls or red lentil enchiladas. It is also a great place to sit out back and have a beer or a glass of wine.
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